Fraud-preventing mechanism for vending machines



July 21, 1925. 1,546,498

J. H. MANN, JR

FRAUD PREVENTING MECHANISM FOR VEDING MACHINES Filed Dec. 4 1920 2 Shee'ts-Sheet l JWSMZ;

m y i July 21, 1925. 1,546,498

' J. H. MANN, JR

FRAUD PREVENTING MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES magg/wm@ PaentedJuly 21, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES HERVEY MANN, JR., 0F PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS, ASSIGNOR, .'BY MISNE .AS-

SIGNMENTS, TO SOUTHWESTERN SALES CORPORATION, A CORPORATION' 0F DELA.

WARE.

FRAUD-PREVENTING MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES.

Application filed December 4, 1920.' Serial No. 428,304.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMES H. MANN, Jr., citizen of the United States, residing at Pine Bluff, in the county of Jefferson and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fraud- Preventing Mechanism for Vending Machines, of which the following is a specilication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The urpose of the present invention is to provide a mechanism of this kind, especially adapted for use in connection with vending machines generally, and particularly in connection with the type of machine illustrated, set forth and claimed in the copending application tiled September 4,1919, in the name of .l ames H. Mann, Jr., Serial No. 321,611, for preventing a coin controlled mechanism and article tray fro being fraudulently operated.

Very often attempts are made to use slugs of different types, for operating the vending machine, instead of using the proper size and denomination of coin, and in the present invention it is the aim to prevent the successful passage of the slug, especially should the slug be made of any magnetizable material, or too large or too small in diameter or irregular in thickness, while permitting a coin of the proper diameter and denomination to be used, in Qrder to operate the coin controlled mechanism and article tray.

Still another purpose resldes in a mechanism of this general character wherein should an operator inserta slug of too large a diameter or irregular in thickness, and it should clog the coin chute or passage, the mechanism will be prevented from being actuated by a proper size diameter of com, when the next operator attempts to insert a coin.

A further object is to provide a mechanism of this character having a coin passage or'chute, in the wall of which there is disposed a gravity depressed member which will be lifted by a coin of proper size and provide in connection with this member a dog which, when an object of larger size than the predetermined coin is inserted, will act to prevent the lifting of said member and thus prevent the downward passa e of this article as, for instance, a blank o slug.

A still further object of the invention is to' provide a machine of this character which is so constructed as vto revent the successful assage of a slug which, though of proper iameter and thickness, is lighter than the predetermined coin to thereby prevent the vending machine from being operated by such a slug, the lower wall of the com passage to this end being provided with a hurdle, as it may be termed, which acts to arrest the light, slug during its passage through the chute, thus preventing a coin of the proper diameter and denomination from being inserted in the mouth of the passage or chute.

Another object is to provide movable im` pediments in the wall of the coin chute 01' passage, these impediments being urged into an impedlng position by gravity and being so arranged that a coin of the proper diameter and denomination and the required weight is capable of rolling movement through the passage suiiicient to overcome the gravity of this impediment and thereby permit the passage of the coin.

Moreover the present invention provides means located adjacent the coin slots and cooperating with the ends of the slots, so as to restrict the size of the slots, so that when inserting 'a ycoin of the proper diameter and denomination, it is necessary to forcethe coin through the slot, and in so doing, to raise the means against the action of tensioning means, to allow the coin to pass. Thev means comprising interconnected or geared dogs adJacent the coin receiving slots are so tensioned and have their' coin engaging ends so curved, that when the ends of the dogs pass dthe diameter of the coin, the dogs will be actuated by the tensioning means, to impart a pushing movement on the coin, and due to the momentum vending machine, such as that shown in the above copending application.

As previously stated the y:t1-aud preventing mechanism is especially adaptedv for vending machines, such as that disclosed in said copending application; hence the entire machine when manufactured Jfor commercial use will embody the coin controlled mechanism and the article tray ot the machine in the copending application, together with the present mechanism.

ln -onnection with the present invention, a still further aim is to provide means tor arrestinga slug ot any suitable magnetizable material at a point in the passage or chute, thereby not only preventing the operator who inserted such a slug from receiving an article, but also so locking and preventing the parts of the mechanism trom operating, that a successive or next operator is unable to operate the machine, in tact to even insert a coin, though it be ot the proper diameter, denomination and weight. For instance should a slug ot steel or'any suitable magnetizable material be inserted 'in the passage, it will be arrested before it can reach the coin controlled mechanism, after which the operator Vwill attemptto operate or push the actuator, which carries means adapted to cover the coin receiving slots. ln this connection the invention aims to provide means cooperating with the -ar rested coin for preventing the actuator and the lslot co-vering means from returning to theii normal positions; hence the coin receiving slots will remain covered, `and prevent other coins or slugs from being inserted.

Additionally the invention Vaims to pro:

vide a mechanism of this general character, whereby it may be locked, but still allowed to remain in a suspended position, in a public place where a machine of this character is used.

While the design and ,construction at present illustrated and set forth is deemed preterable, it is obvious that as a result of a reduction of the invention to amore practical form for commercial purposes, the invention may be susceptible of changes, and the right to these changes is claimed, providedjthey are 'comprehended within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, as ywill be hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the type of vending machine in connection with which the present fraud preventing mechanism is used. i

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the vending machine on line 2-2 of Figure l particularly through substantially one-half of the machine, at a point under the cover for the fraud preventing mechanism, lnore clearly showing the mechanism with its parts in their normal positions.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the coin slot covering means carried by the actuator and partly covering the coin slots, hence locking the machine and preventing a coin from being inserted.

Figure 4L is a sectional view of the upper part of the vending machine, on a plan through the coin chute or passage, showing the intergeared dogs as having been actuated, with a coin of too large a diameter to engage in one of the #coin slots.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view ot the rear wall or wall plate of the coin passarc or chute.

Figure 6'is a detail perspective view of ortion of the coin slot covering bar.

igure 7` is a detail perspective view of the dog which cooperates with a coin arrested by a vhorseshoe magnet for locking the actuator.

Figure 8 is a detail perspective view of the permanent horseshoe-magnet, as casted or covered with bakelite or any other suitable insulating material, which prevents adjacent moving parts of the mechanism preferably as shown, and therefore the same as the casing of the machine illustrated in the copending application. Mounted in the casing l is an inner casing 2, which .is substantially similar to the inner easing shown in the dopen-ding application. The upper portions of the sides offthe inner and outer casings are provided with coin receiving slots 3 and 4 which are in registration.

As previously stated the general construction of the present vending machine, particularly the coin actuatedv or controlled mechanism and article delivering tray (not shown) are designed to correspond with such mechanisms as in the copending application; therefore the actuator 5 is similar in construction. In the present application only the handle portion 6 of the actuator is 'shown in full, while the actuator proper is shown in dotted lines. Riveted 'to'and carried by the actuator as indicated lat 7 is a` ybar 8, which is guided by the guide flange 9 struckhout from one of the side walls'of the inner casing. It will be noted that a portion ot the upper part of the actuator 5 n in Figures 2, 3 and 6, and has an upper transverse portion 11. The ends of the transverse portion 11 are rearwardly angled to provide lateral ears 12 positioned to move Sil adjacent the inner faces of the sides of the inner casing. These ears slide adjacent to the rear wall of the inner casing, and normally have theirl upper end edges 13 substantially even with the lower ends of the slots 3 and 4 of the 'sides of the inner and outer casings. When the actuator 5 is pushed upwardly, the 'ears 12 will move over and cover the coin receiving slots 3 and 4, thereby preventing a successive coin from being inserted, until the actuator is allowed to return to its normal position. A headed pin 14 is carried by the rear wall of the inner casing, and pivotally mounted thereoii is a pawl 15. This pawl comprises a body 16 and an arm 17. TheJ body, though it may be any suitable shape, is preferably substantially elliptical, as shown, and -1s formed with a curved or scroll slot 18. The headed pin 14 normally engages through the end portion 19 of the slot, so that the pawl may cooperate with the bar 8 in the manner shown clearly in the drawings. The arm 17 of the pawl terminates in an fenlargement 20, which operatively engages between the shoulders 21 and 22, so that when the actuator 5 is pushed upwardly, the bar 8 moves therewith, and the pawl 15 will move upon its pivot. A spring 23 has one end attached in any suitable manner to the rear wall of the inner casing. This attachment of the spring 23 to the rear wall of the inner casing, is not shown, because the sectional views of Figures 2 and 3 only show half ofthe casing in sect-ion, and the other half in elevation. The other end of the spring 23 is attached to a lateral lug 24 of the pawl 15. The spring 23 serves to tension the pawl, and through the medium of`the arm of the pawl engaging between the .shoulders 21 and 22 of the bar 8, the actuator 5 is returned to its normal position after having been actuated. As shown in Figure 3 in dotted lines the pawl 15 may be moved to a position relatively to the headed pin 14, so that the shank of the pin may engage the end portion 24a of the slot 18 so that the pawl may operate on an entirely different fnlcrum, and in this case when the actuator has been operated, the pawl will be prevented from actuating to allow the actuator to -ret-urn to its proper normal position. In other words due to mounting the pawl higher up, the end edge of the enlargement 20 of the arm of the pawl will contact with the inner face of one side of the inner casing at a pointhigher up, thereby preventing the bar 8 which is carried by the actuator from returning to its normal position, or from moving its full stroke in a returned direction, as when vthe end 19 of the slot 18 is pivotally engaged by the headed lpin.Av

In this case the projecting lug 25 of the bar 8 will not be allowed to pass a trip detent which is carried by a slug clearing pawl, hence holding the coin clearing pawl to a osition inthe path of the coin. When 'the Ear 8, and the actuatonare prevented from being returned to their normal positions, the ears 12 remain as covering the slots 3 and 4, hence preventing a coin from being inserted. The magazine (not shown) is adapted to have a rear wall, which is 'de- 'si ed to cover the mechanism shown vin Figure 2. Such a rear wall isdisclosed in U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,408,112 issued February 28, 1922. When said magazine is empty, and after removing the frontslide cover of the casing and the rear wall, the actuator may be moved Vupwardly and` the pawl 15 shifted, so thatthe end portion 24 of the slot 18 of the pawl 15 may receive the shank of the pivot 14, thereby preventing the actuator from returning to its normal position, and in this case the ears 12 will partially cover the slots 3 and 4.

It will be noted, as shown clearly in Figures 2., 3 and 4 that the back wall of the inner casing is provided with a depression 26, which is of an outline of the general contour as shown. The rear wall of the inner casing at a point above the upper part of the depression 26 is provided with slots, and arranged in the upper part of the dcpression 26 is the rear wall ofthe coinv passage or chute formed by a plate 27. This plate or rear Wall 27has angular lugs 29, which engage in the slots 28. Thr` slots 28 are formed in the rear wall of the inner casing at a point immediately adjacent and in the upper wall of the depression 26, and by means o-f the lugs 29 engaging through the slot-s 28, the plate 27 is held in place. This rear wall or plate 27 is mounted in the depression, so that its face, which forms the rear face of the coin passage or chute is flush with the marginal portion of the rear wall of the inner casing, and is also flush with the rear longitudinal edges of the coin receiving slots 3 and 4.

Suitable pivots engage through the, rear wall or plate 27, and through a forward wall of the coin passage or chute constituted by a plate 30. The rear ends of the .pivots 31engage the rear wall of the depression 26, and the central portions of these pivots have enlargements 32, which act to space the forward and rear walls. One of these pivots is shown in Figure 9. The ends of the pivots are swaged or otherwise headed,

thereby riveting the forward and rear walls or` plates 27 and 30 in, spaced relation. These plates are spaced apart to form ya,

coin passage or chute, the opposite ends-ict which register with the coin receivingslots 3;- and 4, and through which the coinof proper diameter, weight and denominationmay pass. Pivotally mounted upon the pivots 31 are coin gauging dogs 33, the adjacent ends of which are intergeared, by means of the arcuate interengaging teeth 34.

By this intergeared connection between the two dogs 33, the mov ment of` one dog will cause the movement of the other. The noses 35` of the coin gauging dogs 33 are disposed adjacent the coin receiving slots 3 and 4, and the extremities of the noses are positioned a distance from the lower ends of the slots 3 `and 4 less than the diameter of a coin of the proper denomination, thereby necessitating that some force or pressure be used, t0 force the coin through the slots 3 and 4. It will be noted that when the extremities of the noses 35 pass the greatest diameter of the coin, the coin will readily pass into the passage or chute.

'lhe adjacent portions of the coin gauging dogs are provided with lugs .36, and extending from the upper edge of the wall or plate 30 of the coin passage or chute are lugs 37. Connecting the lugs 36 and 37 are coiled tensioned springs 38, which act to hold the coin gauging dogs in their -normal positions in contact with the projections or limiting stops 39, which are carried by the upper edge portion of theplate or wall 30 of the coin chute or passage. The projections 39 extend rearwardly and overlie the upper edges of the dogs 33, so as to act as stops for the dogs.

The forward and rear plates or walls of the coin passage or chute are provided with arcuate slots 40, which are concentric with the pivots of the dogs 33. Engaging the slots 40 are gravity spherical balls or weights 41, which constitute gravity actuated contractiblesections fof the upper walls ofthe coin passage or chute. In other words the lower edges of the dogs'33 constitute and bound the upper wall of the chute or passage, with the gravity actuated spherical members constituting sections of this wall.

The arcuate slots 40 are positioned relatively' to the pivots 31, so that when the gravity members 41 are moved to their uppermost limit, only a coin of the proper diameter will barely pass. The dogs 33 are provided with notches 42-adjacent their pivots, which are adapted to straddle the balls 41, when the dogs 33 are raised through the medium of a coin being inserted through either set of slots 3 and 4.'

The lower portion of the rear wall of the coin passage or chute adjacent its central part has an arcuate edge, and adjacent the ends of the rear wall or plate 27 of the coin passage or chute on o-pposite sides of the arcuate edge 43 have flanges 44, which are disi 4posed angularly, and constitute angular bottoms or walls on which the coin is designed to roll, in its movement through the chute.

These angularly disposed flanges 44 have lugs 45, which are riveted in the slots 46 of.

the forward plate or wall of the coin chute or passage, thereby more rigidly connecting the forward and rear walls or plates of the coin chute or passage. It is obvious that when a co-in is inserted through either set of coin receiving slots 3 a/nd 4, it will move by gravity through the passage, and then into cooperative engagement with the coin controlled mechanism (not shown) of the vending machine, whereby an article may subsequently be vended. ln addition to the flanges or bottoms 44, the rear wall or plate 27 has lugsl 47. immediately adjacent the lower ends of the flanges 44. rlhe lugs 47 are arranged slightly higher than`v the lower ends of the flanges 44, thereby constituting hurdles in the path of a coin. A coin of proper diameter, denomination and weight will receive momentum enough to pass over" the hurdles or lugs 47. The momentum will be assured, due to the fact that after the coin passes the extremity of the noses 35 of either dog 33, the nose of the dog will act upon and impart-a movement or a push to the coin, starting it down the inclined flange or wall 44. Obviously the coin will receive momentum enough to roll over the hurdle. However, a slug constructed of too light a material, though it be'of the proper diam. eter, will not receive momentum sufficient to override the hurdle. rlhis is particularly due to the fact that the weight of the ball 41v will bear upon the edge of the slug, and

hence act to retard it; therefore as the momentum is counteracted before the slug reaches the hurdle 47, the momentum will not be sutlicient to carry the slug over the hurdle.

A coin of a larger diameter, though it ma pass the/nose 35, will wedge between the ba l 41 and the inclined bottoms or walls 44, hence not only blocking the coin passage or chute, but also preventing the dog 33 from being tilted when forcing another coin through the slots 3 and 4. The prevention of aslug of too large a diameter passing thro-ugh the.

coin passage or chute, is assured, due to the fact that when the slug wedges between the lower ends of the slots 3 land 4 and the nose 35 of the dog 33, the tail portions of the dogs will actuate, as to cause the notches 42 to str'addle the balls 41, and hold them `in the lower portions of the arcuate slots 40, thereby assuring the wedging of the slug between the member 41 and the bottom orv Wall 44 of the coin passage.

A headed pivot pin 48 projects from the rear wall of the inner casing, and pivotally mounted thereon is a slug clearing pawl 49, which is shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, and particularly in the detail view of Fi re 7. This pawl 49 has a downwardly projecting arm 50 provided with a lateral lug 51. The

' 'fr 1,546,498 I o edge 52 ofthe arm 5,0 contacts with the wall "clearing pawl to it-s normal position.

relatively to the armv 54 of the pawl 49, that is Ito say when the bar 8/carried by the actuator is in its normal position. vThe detent 56 also has. a projecting lug 59 anda hook 60. A spring 61 has one endv connected to the hook 60, while its' other end is connected to a struck up lug 62 of the rear wall of the inner casing. Thisy spring 61 holds'the arm 57 normallyA in' contact with the annular sho-ulder 58, as long as the bar 8 is in its nor- -mal position. However, when the actuator is moved upwardly and the bar 8 likewise moved, the lug of the vbar 8 will contact with the lug 59' and trip detent, so that on the downward movement of the bar 8 toward its normal position, the fend edge of the lug 25 will cam'against the surface 63 of the detent, and due to the arm 57 being in contact magnet. The slug clearing pawly has an up` or chute.

with the shoulder 58, the slug clearing pawl will'be tilted upon its pivot, causing the arm 50 to move under the. permanent horseshoe wardly extending arm 64, which is curved and assumes a position inthe coin passage This arm 64 has a forward lug 65 ope-rating in the arcuate slot 66.` The extremity of the arm -64 has a `rearwardly extending lug 67, whichI rides upon the inner surface of the rear wall of the inner casing. It will be noted that the flug 67 Will move ina path adjacent the arcuate edge 43 `ci the rear plate or wall 27 of the coin chute or passage, and each coin passing through the chute or passage necessarily passes this lug 67 and the inclined wall 68 of the coin chute or passage.

A magnet holder 69 constructed of any suitable insulating material preferably bakelite is mounted within the inner casing, and is engaged under the flange 70, which is struck up .from one of the side walls of the inner caslng. A. permanent horseshoe magnet 71 is housed in this bakelite holder 69, and it will be noted, as clearly shown in Figure 8, that the rear of this holder 69, is cut away, so as to expose the rear faces of the arms or 'poles of the permanent magnet, this cut-away portion constituting and forming part of the lower end of the coi-n passage or chute. This bakelite holder with its magnet may be heldin the inner casing in any suitable manner. (not shown). The lower extremities of the arms of the permanent magnet on their rear faces have shoulders 7 2, which are adapted to engage a magnetizable slug that may bepalssed into the upper part ofthe passage.

It 1s obvious thatwhen a slug of proper weight and diameter and of suitable mag-` netizable lmaterial, is passed through` the `coin passage or chute, it will be attracted and detained by the ermanent horseshoe magnet, `which will b ook another.' coinl or slug in its passage through the machine. When a magnetizable slug is arrested'by the magnet, itwill rest upon the shoulders 72, and thoughl the machine may -be jarred or shaken, it is practically impossible to cause the removal of the slug. When the slug iscaught in this manner, andthe operator who is fraudulently attempting to operate the machine, should push' up on the actuator,`the.bar 8'wi1l likewise move up, and the ears 12 will cover the coin lreceiving slots 3 and 4. However when pressure upon the actuator is relieved, and the bar 8 and the actuator are' returned to/their normal positions by the spring tensioned pawl 15, the' y lug 25 will engage with and cam upon the lug 59 of the detent, causiig the arm 57 to* engage the shoulder 58. The detent and the slug clearing pawl will then move to gether, which will cause the arm 50 of the slug clearing pawl to move behind the permanent magnet. The lateral lug 51 of the arm 50 will immediately contact with the margin or the edge of the slug, and hence will prevent a sulicient movement of the pawl 49, to permit the lug 25 to pass the lug 59, thereby locking the fraud preventing mechanism., In locking the mechanism in this manner the lug 67 will'remain in the `center of the coin passage or chute, While the ears 12 will remain in position covering the slots 3 and 4, thereby preventing an-y other operator from attempting to actuate the vending machine. The rear wall of the inner casing is providedfwith an elongated protuberance 78, which is formed by embossingthe wall. This protuberance 73 is positioned relatively to the magnet, and to the other parts of the mechanism, so as to loo cause an irregular movement of the coin,

during its passage through the chute. It is obvious that in causing this irregular passage of the coin, the coin will be swept near the rear face of the magnet. This will not affect the passage of a`coin of proper/diameter, weight and denomination (which is de! The upper transverse portion 11 of theu bar 8 is provided with the depending arm 74, the lower edge 75 of which engages and lrests upon the lug 68 of the slug swee ing awl 49, thereby not only assisting in imiting the bar 8 and the actuator 1n its returned normal position, but also assisting in returning the pawl 49 to its normal osition. The magnet holder 69 is provide with a rotuberance 76, which engages in the notch 7 formed in the back wall of the inner casing 2, thereby preventing 'the holder as well as the magnet from moving vertically. Forward movement of the holder 69 is pref vented, due to the fact that the ange or narrow' portion 78 of, the holder engages under the ange 7 0,'which is struck up from one side of the inner casing 2.

It will be noted that the distance between the lower end of the coin slots 3 and Ithe nose of the adjacent dog 33 is normally less than the diameter of a coin of propel size, therefore upon the insertion of a coin of proper size the noses 35 of the coin dogs 33 will cam upon the coin, causing the dogs to oscillate. After a coin has passed the nose 35 of either coin dog, the action of the springs 38 returns the coin dogs 33 tb their normal position, allowing the' coin of proper 'size to pass lthrough the chute.l l Should a slug of a diameter larger than the proper diameter of coin, and of a reater thickness, or of irregular shape be orced into the coin slots 3 and 4 of either side of the casing, it will not, due to its oversize or irregularity, have a free passage throughthe chute and will either jam or lodge in the chute, and upon the subsequent attempt to tected, and

insert a coin of proper diameter through the coin slots -of the opposite side of the casing, the coin will not pass, due tothe concerted action of the geared connections. between the coin dogs. In other words the slug of oversize -diameter will hold lthe coin dogs partly actuated, and upon the insertion of a subsequent coin of pro er diameter, the coin dogs cannot make a iullstroke, hence the coin of proper size cannot pass. In this way a subsequent operator is propre'vented from depositingv ra coin in a mac ine which is out of order.

It will,also be noted that an lattempt to force a coin into the coin slot on the blocked side of the 4contracting chute or coin passage would be of no avail, for during such an attempt, the action of the coin dogs 33 would force the lodged object toward the coin slot, which in itself would block or ob.

struct the insertion of the coin. Should such forced attempts be made on the o podue to the concerted action of the coiii dogs 33. However, should the oversize or irregular-shaped slug not lblock the lower' er right hand corner of the figure in dotted ines, two slugs of proper diameter.

One of these slugs is dis osed immedatel opposite the ball 41, w ile the other s ug 1s shown as adacent the coin slot 3. Now if a slug shou d lodge immediately beneath the pivotal point for the bottom of 33, the dog can oscillate, so that while the right hand coin chute is blocked, yet a coin of the proper diameter, thickness' and Weight may pass down the opposite.. coin slot and between the other gravity actuated member 41 and the member 44. Thus one side of the coin chute or passage is blocked, but if this slug be disposed higher up as, for instance, as the entrance of the -coin chute, as shown at the'extreme right hand of Figure 2, then it will lift the portion 35 of the dog,

depressing the inner end of the do and this will depress the inner end of t e opposite dog and will limit the upward movement of the ball 41 on this last named side so that this chute will be prevented from receiving Aa Icoin due to the fact that the opposite chute-is blocked.

Thelug or ear 65 which is on the awl 49 enters the arcuate slot .66 of the brward wall or plate 30 of thecoin passage or chute, and is designed for directing the coin under the lug 67, which also forms a portion of the upper end of the arm 64 of the pawl 49. In other words the coin during its passage throughsthe coin chute, may possibly contact or engage with the lug or ear 65 at a point, where said lug or ear bendsor'extends from the arm 64. At such time when a coin Ycontacts withthe lug or ear 65, it will be deflected toward the rear wall of the coin passage, thereby permitting the coin to pass under the lug or ear 67. The coin, uponbeing deflected toward the rear wall of the coin passage, is in an alignment with and enabling it to easily strike or contact with the hurdle 73, which will force the coin toward the magnet. If, instead of the coin, a steel slug of proper diameter and thickness be deflected toward the magnet, it will be attracted andA detained thereby, which will prevent actuating the machine.

The detent 56 has a free movement on its headed pivot pin 55, that is for a limited distance. The spring 61 exerts a tension on the arm 54 of the pawl 49, since the detent is carried'by the arm 54 of the pawl 49, and

also exerts a clockwise tension on the detent, which, however, has no clockwise movement with relation to the pivot 14,

' (not shown).

terminates with a righta-ng e lug 67, which also rests upon the rear Wall of the depression 26.

After a coin of proper diameter and thickness has passed through the contracted chute, and then passes under the upper arm of the slug catching pawl 49 and then under the magnet, it will then pass through the lower part of the coin chute below the magnet, and then into proper position in the coin controlled mechanlsm or the article tray The actuator may then bey pushedjupwardly, accomplishing the ldelivery ofy the gum or other article to be vended. Upon the return of the actuator to its normal position, the lug of the bar 8v will engage the detent 56, and cause the slug catching pawl 49 to make an idle `movement or stroke under the magnet, and also under the lower part of the forward wall or plate of the coin chute or passage, unless there is something in its path, in which event the machine is lockedI against the further depositing of a coin, due to theclosing bar not being able to return to its lnormal position.

As previously stated if the slug catching pawl 49 does not, through some cause, return to its normal position, the coin slot closing bar cannot return to its normal position, due to the lug 25 being unable to pass the detent 56, or due to the end edge of the projection 74 contacting with and resting upon the lug or ear 68a of the arm 64 of the slug catching pawl; that is to say when the bar 8 has been moved to its fullest extent, and due to the coin slot closing ears 12 being unable to uncover the coin slots 3 and 4, since the bar is unable to return to its normal position, the machine is locked, and the depositing of another coin prevented.

Should a slug of the pro er size for which the magnet has attraction e inserted in the machine, it will make its way to the coin passage or chute until it reaches the magnet where it will be arrested from further movement. It is not possible toshake the slug from engagement with the magnet, 'due to the shoulders 72 on the arms of the magnet. Also due to the protuberance or boss/73 formed in the rear wall of the depression 26, it is impossible for another slug to pass by the slug already arrested by the magnet, for the passage is not large enough to permit the ,second slug or coin to pass between the boss or prvtuberance, and the rst slug or coin. The slug which is held by the magnet is directly in the path of the stroke of the slug slot closing bar in a raised position.

The invention having been set forth, what i n is claimed as being'useful is:

catching' pawl 49, which will not be able to i make its stroke and therefore will hold the 1. Inga fraud preventingv Imechanism for vending machines, a coin chute or passage having in its upper'wall a pivoted dog, a gravity actuated member carried by the dog and normally projecting into the passage and acting to impede the movement lof a coin down said passage and having limited outward movement in the dog.

2. In a fraud preventing mechanism yfor vending machines, a coin chute or passage having `a hurdle partly in thepath of a slug of underweight, said chute or ing a gravity actuated contractmg wall section to retard the momentum of the slug, thereby preventing it from rolling over-the hurdle. i

3. In a fraud preventing mechanism. for

vending machines, a coin passage or chute. having coin slots, co1n dogscooperating.

assage havi 4. In a fraudA preventing mechanism for l.

vending machines, a coin chute or passage having branch parts, through either-one ofr -which a coin is adapted to passsaid branch parts ofthe coin passa-ge having interconnected coin dogs, to cooperate with the ends of the branch parts of the passage, sothat a slug havingH an oversize diameter may 'loo cooperatively Wedge between t'he lower wall i of one of the branch parts of the passage and the end ofjts respective dog, for locking the dogs in their actuated positions, thereby closing both branch parts of the coin passage.

5. In a fraud preventing mechanism for vending machines, a coin chute having coin receiving branch parts having coin slots,

coin dogs mounted in the upper parts of the branch arts of the coin chutel and constituting wal s, tensioning means for the dogs, intergeared connections between the dogs so that the operation of one actuates the other,

coin jumping hurdles in the branch parts to4 retard the momentum of the coin.

6. In a fraud preventing mechanism for vending machines, a coin chute having coin receiving branch parts having coin slots, coin dogs mounted in the upper parts of the branch parts of the coin chute and constitut ing walls, tensioning means for the dogs, intergeared connections between t-he dogs so that the operation of one actuates the other, coin jiunping hurdles in the branch parts to retard the momentum .of the coin, and

'i `coin dogs mounted in the upper parts of the branch parts of the coin chute and constituting walls, tensioning lneans for the dogs, intergeared connections between the dogs so' that the operation of one actuates the other, coin jumping hurdles in thel branch parts to retard the momentum of the coin, and gravity actuated wall sections operatively mounted in the branch parts -of the coin chute to coo erate with a slug of too light a material, or retardng the momentum of the slug, and 'thereby preventing the same from properly passing the hurdle, and means carried by the coin dogs -cooperating with the gravity.y wall sections, to hold the wall sections against movement, in case a slug is wedged between the dogs and the lower ends of the coin slots.

8. In a coin actuated machine, a coin passage, a vertically movable ball operating in guides in said passage and normally held by its own weight in the path of movement of the coin but adapted to be lifted by a coin, means actuated by the insertion of a blank of larger diameter than the predetermined coin to prevent the outward movement of said ball.

9. In a machine as set forth a coin pasl' sage having an, inclined surface to permit a coin to roll, and a hurdle at the lower end of said passage, over which the coin passes, and a gravity actuated wall section to retard the momentum of a slug of light material,

.hence preventing the slug from passing over the hurdle.

` 10. In a machine as set forth a coin pas-l sage having an inclined surface to "permit a coin to roll, and `a hurdlea` the lower end of said passage, over which the coin passes, and a gravity actuated wall section to retard the momentum of a slugof light material, hence preventing the slug from passing over the hurdle, and means to lock the gravity movable wall section in place.

11. In a mechanism as set forth, a coin chute', a hurdle in the path of a coin, and a gravity movable spherical means cooperating with the hurdle to retard the movement vof a slug of underweight material, thereby preventing its passage through the chute.

12. In a fraud preventing mechanism for vending machines, a coin chute .provided with coin receiving slots, said chute having opposed front and back'walls provided with arcuate slots, and gravity members guided in .said arcuate slots and adapted to be having an inclined bottom, the front and back walls. of the chute having guides, a

' gravity wall section mounted in said guides and under which the coin is adapted to pass, to permit the coin to pass onward through the chute, and spring tension means actuated by a coin as it enters the chute to hold the gravity wall section in position until after the coin reaches an obstructing' position ready to pass under the wall section.

14.In a fraud preventing mechanism for vending machines, a lcom passage or chutel having an inclined bottom, the front vand back walls of t-he chute having guides, a gravity Wall sectionmounted in said guides and under which the coin vis adapted to pass, topermit the coin to pass throughthe chute,

and a hurdle below the gravity Wall section.

15. In a fraud preventing mechanism for vending machines, a coin passage `or chute having an inclined bottom, the front and back walls of the chute having guides, a gravity wall section mounted in said guides and under which the coin is adapted to pass,

to permit the coin to pass through the chute,

and ahurdle below the gravity wall sec` tion, spring tension means actuated by a coin as it enters the chute to khold the gravity wall section in obstructing position until after the coin reaches a position ready to pass under the wall section.

16. In a coin actuated machine, an inclined coin passage, means for retarding a coin in its passage or for blocking an over-v sized blank comprising a gravityactuated movable member disposed in the top wall of the coin passage and normally extending into the path of a coin but lifted by a coin of proper size, and means actuated by the insertion of a coin in the entrance -to thecoin passage limiting the upwardmovement of said gravity actuated member.

17. In a coin actuated mechanism, a coin chute provided with a gravity actuated Wall in the top wall of the chute to be engaged and lifted by a coin of predetermined diameter, means actuated by the insertion of a slug larger in diameter than the predetermined coin acting to limit the upward movement of the gravity walll and thereby prevent the slug from passing down the chute.

18. In a coin actuated mechanism, a coin passage having a dog pivoted'intermediate its ends and forming ahvall section of the -coin passage, al gravity actuated member but when engaged by a slu or coin of larger than the predetermined iameter preventing upward movement of the member to thereby prevent the descent of the coin or i slug through said passage.

19. In a coin operated mechanism, a coin chute, -a dog pivoted adjacent the entrance to the coin chute and having that end adjacent the entrance to the coin chute formed 10 with a slightly concave under edge surface adapted to engage the coin2 a spring holding the dog in a normal posltion, the curved portion of the dog being lifted by the insertion of a coin against the action of said sprngvand the dog then acting to kick the coin along the coin chute by the resilience of said spring.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aix my signature.

JAMES HERVEY MANN,*JR. 

